MVR Flores tells Group of Friends that recall referendum is "conquest of the revolution"

<a href=www.vheadline.com>venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) leader and parliamentarian, Cilia Flores  has been doing a spot of PR work to match that of the opposition Coordinadora Democratica (CD) to convince visiting six-nation Group of Friends delegates that President Hugo Chavez Frias does not have to sign any negotiated agreement regarding the recall referendum. 

"The Group of Friends must understand that the figure of the recall referendum as stipulated in the Bolivarian Constitution is a conquest of the revolution ... it's all there and therefore the President is not obliged to sign anything." 

Following the party line, Ms. Flores, who heads the pro-government parliamentary group, calls on the opposition negotiating team to show "political openness ... the best way to showing plurality is to transfer the forum to the National Assembly." 

Flores has praised Organization of American States (OAS)  general secretary, Cesar Gaviria, the Carter Center and the UN for their role in helping things along and says that even though their work is done, they should continue as facilitators.